What's Hot 2024: 50 of the best games we saw and played at the summer showcases
Jun. 4, 2024The GamesRadar+ Summer Games Preview runs throughout the month of June, diving deep into the hottest upcoming games for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The era of E3 is over. There was a time where the Electronic Entertainment Expo could focus the attention of the entire community of video game players, the world focusing on a single week for the announcements, trailers, gameplay, and release dates which would carry the industry forward into the year. Now, with attention fractured between disparate events and virtual showcases it can be difficult to sift through the noise and connect directly with the entertainment that you are truly passionate about.
But that’s where our Summer Preview comes in. These features could include hands-on impressions from our time with one of your most anticipated games of the year, or original interviews where we sit down with the developers creating them to learn more. There will be gameplay analysis and opinion too, because sometimes games are ready to be shown but not played. Hopefully, these articles will bring you closer to the video games that you really care about, and tell you everything you need to know about the experiences you hadn’t already connected with.
50| Fallout 76: Skyline Valley
Available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X
It’s been a long journey for Bethesda Game Studios, but Fallout 76 has finally carved out its own place in the MMO wasteland. Strengthened after six years of refinement, and buoyed by the success of the Fallout TV show, Fallout 76 has never looked more inviting. While the chance tochannel your inner Walton Goggins and play as a ghoulisn’t coming until next year, the new Skyline Valley expansion is undoubtedly the best opportunity to dive in and play.
Read ourFallout 76: Skyline Valley preview
It’s been 14 years since the last installment to the Budokai Tenkaichi series, butBandai Namcois here to make up for the wait. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero puts you in command of some of the strongest fighters in the universe, battling it out in vivid 3D battles that capture the thrills of the anime. It’s fast, it’s frantic, it has an epic roster of characters, and should be the ultimate expression for any Dragon Ball fan.
Read ourDragon Ball: Sparkling Zero hands-on preview
From the developer behind Genital Jousting and Terra Nil comes Anger Foot, an absurd first-person shooter where you effectively take on the role of extraterrestrial John Wick – marauding across Shit City to shoot, kick, and immolate a precession of merciless gangsters. Anger Foot is a caffeine-spiked fever dream punctuated by tireless techno, and as we discovered when we played the damn thing, it’s an absolute riot if you have the energy to keep up.
Learn more in ourAnger Foot hands-on preview
Looking for a little more carnage in your life this summer? Then you’ll want to cut off a slice of 33 Immortals, a co-op roguelike designed to be played alongside 33 other players. It’s a compelling framework from the developers behind Spiritfarer and Sundered. Naturally, as you’re facing the wrath of god here, you can expect countless chaotic encounters and the sort of challenging boss battles that have a habit of forcing 33 damned souls to work together in harmony.
Learn more in our33 Immortals hands-on preview
Remaking any video game is always fraught with difficulties, let alone what has long been considered one of thebest horror gamesof all time. Still, Layers of Fear and Observer developer Bloober Team is giving this project its all as it attempts to modernizeSilent Hill 2for new audiences. The studio is trying to merge modern action-game design sensibilities with the suffocating atmosphere of the original experience, and it looks utterly thrilling.
There’s only one cure for burnout: take a break from the big city and head to Hinterberg. Armed with little more than a tourist guide and a short sword, Dungeons of Hinterberg leaves you free to slay monsters on the alps by day and have a coffee with new friends by the lake by night. It’s a fun adventure packed with energetic combat and twisting puzzles, and a smart leveling system that plays into the wider fantasy constructed by developer Microbird.
Learn more in ourDungeons of Hinterberg hands-on preview
11 Bit Studios created arguably the most depressing city-builder on planet Earth with the original Frostpunk, putting the future of humanity in your hands as it battles to survive an apocalyptic blizzard. Well, the sequel isn’t any cheerier, but it is far more approachable. Smart system changes ensure that maintaining a growing metropolis isn’t fraught with frustrations, leaving you free to keep the cogs of a giant, resource-hungry machine turning with little consternation.
Learn more in ourFrostpunk 2 hands-on preview
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to take up arms as an interplanetary gunslinger, you’ll want to pay attention to Wild Bastards. Tactical first-person shooter combat combines with slick party-building systems which push you to rebuild a gang of 13 outlaws who each carry their own grudges, dreams, and ability trees. All told, Wild Bastards is shaping up to be the spiritual successor to cult-favorite Void Bastards that we never knew we needed.
Read ourWild Bastards hands-on preview
Dune: Awakeningis an upcoming survival MMO from Conan Exiles developer Funcom. Gathering materials for base-building to take shelter on the arid desert planet looks tough enough in the trailers, but we’ll have to manage our basic necessities if we want to make it to the next day at all. With water being a rarity and spice reigning supreme on Arrakis, Dune: Awakening is shaping up to be one of the most interesting new survival games of the year. Oh, and watch out for sandworms.
Alan Wake 2: Night Springs is delivering something which was sorely lacking from the main campaign: a little levity. Where Remedy pushed its story in a darker direction, chronicling Alan Wake’s spiral through the Dark Place and Saga Anderson’s attempt to grapple with an unraveling reality, the game’s first expansion is a return to the quirkiness of the original experience. Three episodes, each driven by an elseworld’s version of a fan-favorite character – it’s a lot of frantic, lighthearted fun.
Read ourAlan Wake 2: Night Springs interview
It all started to get a little intense there for a second, didn’t it? Where Endwalker focused on bringing the decade-long Hydaelyn–Zodiark arc to a close, the upcomingFinal Fantasy 14: Dawntrail expansionis all about new beginnings. It’s a journey to the faraway continent of Tural, a sun soaked nation packed with gorgeous vistas, fearsome foes, and plenty of opportunities to make new friends. If you’re yet to play, now is the time to try FF14.
Read ourFinal Fantasy 14: Dawntrail hands-on preview
Buoyed by the success ofHelldivers 2, PlayStation’s big commitment to the live service space has a little life left in it yet. Especially after the reveal of Concord, a new PvP multiplayer shooter from Firewalk Studios – connecting the team-based antics of Overwatch with the raucous energy of Guardians of the Galaxy. With its vibrant world, eclectic selection of heroes, and $40 price of entry, Concord is aiming to be your next FPS obsession when it launches this summer.
It’s difficult for survival games to stand out at a time where the genre market is so oversaturated with new contenders. Perhaps that’s a part of what makes The Alters so damned impressive, with developer 11 Bit Studios leaning on the multiversal chaos propagated by Everything Everywhere All at Once to help set it apart from the pack. Approachable base building and survival mechanics combine with smart cloning systems to make for an unmissable experience.
Learn more in ourThe Alters hands-on preview
If you’re yearning for the days of Tony Hawk but with a slightly darker twist, solodev project Skate Story is one to watch this year. Skateboarding through the Underworld looks every bit as badass as it sounds in this striking third-person action game, our crystalline hero performing daring feats of four-wheeled mayhem on a quest to rescue fellow lost souls from the bowels of Hell. Destroying demons with a well-timed kick flip? Sign me right up.
If there’s any classic JRPG deserving ofSquare Enix’s gorgeous HD-2D remake treatment, it’s Dragon Quest 3. Fans have been salivating over the possibilities of this remake since it was first tentatively revealed three years ago, but now the wait is coming to an end. We played an hour of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake behind closed doors at a Square Enix event duringSummer Game Fest, and this is absolutely the definitive modernization that this legendary 8-bit RPG deserves.
Read ourDragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake hands-on preview
Treyarch and Raven are teaming up to tackle the most exciting Call of Duty installment since the Modern Warfare reboot. Raven is tackling the campaign, striving to deliver the ultimate spy fantasy as Black Ops agents are forced to go rogue to uncover a wide government conspiracy. Treyarch is handling the multiplayer and zombies, taking a back-to-basics approach to each mode while innovating through evocative new movement systems. I visited Treyarch’s offices to learn more aboutBlack Ops 6, and I didn’t leave disappointed.
Read ourCall of Duty: Black Ops 6 interview
It’s been almost a decade since Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain set a new standard for the stealth-action genre, andKonamihas done precious little with the franchise since. Eyebrows were raised when the publisher announced it was remaking one of the best PS2 games, but everything we have seen of it so far looks pretty incredible, with Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater boasting overhauled visuals, refined mechanics, and more immersive systems. It’s looking increasingly essential.
Read ourGreedfall 2 hands-on preview
Look out for our Metroid Prime 4: Beyond thoughts later this week
One of the weirdest and most wonderful old-school Atari games is getting a follow-up in Yars Rising, an upcoming Metroidvania from the home of arcade gaming that riffs off 1982’s Yars' Revenge. If going up against an enemy called Missile Commander doesn’t sell you on this one, I don’t know what will, because this 3D side-scrolling adventure is pure nostalgia gift-wrapped in all the stylistic flair of a slick modern Metroidvania.
Read ourYars Rising hands-on preview
Grinding Gear Games built its reputation on Path of Exile, an action-RPG known for its spiraling complexity. With this sequel, the studio set out to build an experience that merges that depth with a wider focus on approachability – and the results are staggering. If you’ve bounced off of theDiablo 4seasonal structure then Path of Exile 2 is shaping up to be a really viable alternative, with the game set to launch into early access later this year.
Read ourPath of Exile 2 hands-on preview
Coming to PC in the future
If there’s anyone you can trust with making a new RTS then it’s a Blizzard veteran who spent 10 years making StarCraft. Thus, let us introduce Battle Aces, a new, fast-paced title that’s aiming to be the RTS for everyone. With each player only allowed to bring eight units into battle, the aim is to become an action-packed, army vs. army game that lets you experiment with different strategies. From what we’ve played so far, it’s certainly ticking a lot of boxes for us.
Read ourBattle Aces hands-on preview
Read ourCitizen Sleeper 2 hands-on preview
A few indie games are on this list, but none quite like Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure. Its entire world is placed on a looping grid, like a board game where you can continually slide around entire rows and columns. Our hero Jemma, plus any other characters or items, will flip around to the other side of the map when you reach the end. Figuring out how best to move both Jemma and key items like weapons is core to solving the game’s excellent puzzles. It puts an all-new spin on slip ‘n’ slide.
Read our Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure hands-on preview later this week
Slitterheadis exceptionally strange. You know, in a way that’s deeply unsettling. Not that we’d expect anything less from Keiichiro Toyama, one of the key creatives behind the Silent Hill franchise. He is leading production of this bloody body horror adventure, the debut from Bokeh Game Studio, which is set to land later this year. If there’s one thing we need you to understand about Slitterhead, it’s that its gameplay reveal trailer is only the beginning.
Learn more in our Slitterhead hands-on preview coming later this week!
The most unexpected collaboration of the year comes from PlayStation Studios, with Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo teaming up with the fine folks over at The LEGO Group for Lego Horizon Adventures. It’s a wild and vibrant coming together of different styles,the world of Horizon rebuilt with individual Lego bricks. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends and family, Lego Horizon Adventures is going to show Aloy and the Machines like you’ve never seen them before.
Read ourLego Horizon Adventures hands-on preview
If you’re in the market for an action game that straddles the fine line between the robustness of God of War and challenge of Elden Ring, then the next release from Ashen developer A44 Games is likely what you’re looking for. It isn’t a soulslike in the traditional sense, but rather an approachable, hyper-mobile action game that delivers big thrills and all-encompassing boss battles against some truly gorgeous backdrops. You’ll want to watch this one closely.
Read ourFlintlock: Siege of Dawn hands-on preview
Obsidian is bringing us back to the Living Lands of Eora, its Pillars of Eternity universe, inAvowed. The upcoming first person RPG will see us unravelling the origins of a mysterious illness that plagues the Living Lands, forging alliances with new companions along the way. Expect a branching narrative, magic-melee combat systems, and a beautiful semi-open world to explore. Avowed has been nicknamed Obsidian’s answer to Skyrim – and that’s not a bad thing at all.
Our Avowed interview is coming soon!
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is an upcoming action strategy game that centres on Yoshiro, a priestess capable of cleansing the Tori gates and sealing away the evil that’s spilling out of each one. You are her protector, an acrobatic sword-wielding type who’s battles most often resemble deadly dances than your average combat. With a roguelike-esque structure, you’ll spend your days preparing but your nights are dedicated to fighting the deliciously-named Seethe hordes. ThisCapcomdeveloped title is a stunning one, and out very soon indeed.
OurKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess hands-on preview is coming soon!
Blizzard Entertainmentis riding high off of the success of Diablo 4, and the action-RPGs first expansion is set to introduce sprawling changes to the core loop and loot cycle. We’ll follow Neyrelle on her journey into Nahantu, a region of Sanctuary which fans of Diablo 2 will likely recognise, as she grapples with the influence of the Soulstone. Better still you’ll be able to do it as a Spiritborn, which is a brand new class for the Diablo franchise.
Our Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred interview is coming soon!
Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobylhas been a long time coming. GSC Game World was forced to delay its immersive-FPS, with many of the studio’s developers drawn into the war in Ukraine. With that as a backdrop, it’s fantastic to see Stalker back in action – and better than ever before. This push into the Chornobyl Anomalous Exclusion Zone is beautiful, haunting, and exceptionally challenging – a world wrought by mystery and mutants. Stalker 2 is set to be one of the best Game Pass games of the year.
Read ourStalker 2 hands-on preview
There were a lot of big surprises out of the summer reveal season, but perhaps none quite as unexpected asLife is Strange: Double Exposure. Deck Nine Games – the developer behind (arguably) the two best Life is Strange games in Before the Storm and True Colors – is back with a brand new adventure, this one starring an older Max Caulfield who is shifting between realities to try and circumvent the murder of her best friend. You might say that it lookshellagood.
Read ourLife is Strange: Double Exposure preview
The Plucky Squire is a 2D and 3D side-scrolling action-adventure on the way from developer All Possible Futures, and it’s one we’ve been eyeballing for a long time. Stepping out from the pages of a storybook, our hero Jot discovers a whole new world beyond his own after being kicked out of it by the nasty villainous Humgrump, but it turns out to be a much grander adventure than he bargained for.
OurPlucky Squire hands-on preview
Read ourFable 4 preview
The existence of a hobbit is (mostly) a peaceful one, and that’s what cozy life simTales of the Shireis all about. In a welcome departure from the action-heavy likes of thebest Lord of the Rings games, Tales of the Shire sees us creating our own hobbit, decorating our burrow, and exploring Hobbiton in all its charming glory. Expect cooking simulations to play a large role here – there’s always room for second breakfast, after all.
Read ourTales of the Shire hands-on preview
The ancient Chinese legend of the Monkey King is getting the action RPG treatment inBlack Myth Wukong. Game Science’s adaptation of the Sun Wukong will see players battling it out in harsh environments against even harsher enemies as the legendary hero, using his innate magic and trusty martial arts main weapon to do so. It might be Soulslike-shaped, but Black Myth: Wukong is treading very different tracks on its quest to offer a dynamic RPG experience that looks as good as it feels to play.
Read ourBlack Myth: Wukong hands-on preview
Coming to PC and PS5
Phantom Blade Zero isn’t another soulslike – it’s an irresponsibly fast action game that feels like a melting pot of ideas, harkening back to everything from Sekrio: Shadows Die Twice to Ninja Gaiden Black and Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. With its world built around Chinese martial arts and steampunk, punishingly quick combat, and surprisingly deep combo-focused assaults, Phantom Blade 0 is on track to carve its own space out of a crowded genre. The game doesn’t have a release window just yet, but we’re hoping it lands soon.
Read ourPhantom Blade Zero hands-on preview
Read ourNeva hands-on preview
Our Starfield: Shattered Space impressions are coming soon
Indy fans, look no further for the game you’ve been waiting for.Indiana Jones and the Great Circleis anupcoming Bethesda gamemade in tandem with Wolfenstein developer MachineGames, and it’s shaping up to be the cinematic action-adventure of the year. Swapping between first-person combat action and third-person traversal, the new Indiana Jones game is set to take us on a whip-cracking, globetrotting journey that sits between Raiders and Lost Crusade on the timeline. Yeah, I can’t quite believe it’s finally happening either.
Our Indiana Jones and the Great Circle impressions are coming soon
Elden Ringwas a global phenomenon when it launched two years ago, redefining the shape of open-world action-RPGs forever. Developer FromSoftware is pulling players into a new adventure set across the perilous Land of Shadow inShadow of the Erdtreeexpansion. You’ll explore uncharted territory, armed with new weapons and equipment, but there’s no telling whether it will be enough to survive the horrors ahead.
Read ourElden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree hands-on preview
Read ourMonster Hunter Wilds preview
Emergence Day is legend in Gears of War history. It’s the day the Locust first emerged from beneath the surface of planet Sera and waged a war on humanity. It has long been considered sacrosanct, with neitherEpic Gamesnor The Coalition ever giving much detail on the climatic event. Gears of War: E-Day will change all of that next year in this daring prequel adventure which aims to recapture the spirit which defined the original trilogy.
Our Gears of War: E-Day interview is coming soon!
PlayStation has often routed some of its best ideas through Astro, the robot who is quickly becoming one ofSony’s most beloved mascots. Astro is returning this year with a supersized space adventure – the PS5 mothership has been wrecked, leaving Astro and the crew scattered across 50 planets. Packed full of nods to PlayStation history, and the sort of innovations which make full use of the PS5 hardware, this will be an unmissable adventure for the entire family.
Read ourAstro Bot hands-on preview
Princess Zelda will finally star in her very own Legend of Zelda game. The 3D action-adventure sees the tables turn on Link and Zelda as she ventures forth to free her knight using everything but a sword – yes, even the kitchen sink, since her powers let her duplicate and spawn everyday items to help solve myriad platforming puzzles. Echoes of Wisdom is a charming addition to the Zelda canon in the vein of the Link’s Awakening remake, and it’s right up there on our list ofnew Switch games.
Read our Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom impressions soon
One of the biggest surprises at Summer Game Fest this year was a gameplay reveal for The Initiative and Crystal Dynamics' upcomingPerfect Dark reboot. Joanna Dark is back and better than ever in this futuristic spy thriller, now featuring an all-new story that elevates the 2000 original and then some. Instead of an alien mystery, we’ll be confronting a global conspiracy in the wake of a series of natural disasters that have rendered much of the planet inhospitable. Cue secret agent FPS action worthy of James Bond himself.
Read ourPerfect Dark preview
Read ourAssassin’s Creed Shadows preview
Doom: The Dark Ages is drawing you into a time where the Slayer was wielded as the ultimate super weapon of gods and kings. It’s one hell of a setup, driving some sweeping changes to the framework of id Software’s upcoming shooter. The studio is looking to the past to inspire its future, introducing more grounded combat with a wider reliance on navigating projectiles to harken back to the original DOOM, all while introducing a new suite of demon-slaying weapons.
Read our exclusiveDoom: The Dark Ages preview
Star Wars Outlawsis shaping up to be the scoundrel simulator that we’ve always dreamed of playing. Massive Entertainment, the developer behind The Division and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, is building out its own corner of a galaxy far, far, away – an open world Star Wars game where you take on the role of a young smuggler trying to pull off a daring Outer Rim heist between the events of Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Read ourStar Wars Outlaws hands-on preview
A decade after Dragon Age: Inquisition and BioWare is finally ready to deliver a sequel. After years of delays and name-changes,Dragon Age: The Veilguardis here to redefine what a modern Dragon Age game looks like, pushing smarter RPG systems, in-depth character customization, and combat inspired by everything from God of War to Mass Effect. If you’re finally calling time with Baldur’s Gate 3, The Veilguard is set to be your next RPG obsession.
Read ourDragon Age: The Veilguard preview
Our Summer Games Preview runs throughout the month of June, diving deep into the hottest upcoming games for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X.
Josh West is the Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar+. He has over 15 years experience in online and print journalism, and holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Feature Writing. Prior to starting his current position, Josh has served as GR+’s Features Editor and Deputy Editor of games™ magazine, and has freelanced for numerous publications including 3D Artist, Edge magazine, iCreate, Metal Hammer, Play, Retro Gamer, and SFX. Additionally, he has appeared on the BBC and ITV to provide expert comment, written for Scholastic books, edited a book for Hachette, and worked as the Assistant Producer of the Future Games Show. In his spare time, Josh likes to play bass guitar and video games. Years ago, he was in a few movies and TV shows that you’ve definitely seen but will never be able to spot him in.
In an attempt to promote its own indie roguelike, one developer accidentally created an alternative to The Game Awards for devs who can’t afford thousands of dollars for a trailer spot
Marvel Rivals Assemble code explained and how to use it
Popular anime Castlevania: Nocturne season 2 gets new trailer and confirms release date
